Expansion chamber for condenser coils of a refrigerating system



April 19, 1955 c w, STQNER 2,706,386

EXPANSION CHAMBER FOR CONDENSER COILS OF A REFRIGERATING SYSTEM Filed Jan. 21, 1953 \c0NDENsER con. EVAPORATOR COIL EVAPORATOR con.

5 M L U M U C C E A B w a m w L U N m w R E. U w E U E Us R 5 CE E IV NR L RP w MW 8 c E G R m H N I K SM D M A COMPRESSOR l UNIT CONDENSER COIL i R o w T A .L u M u C c E A w E. T% T T mm m R N NU E S H .EU CV MEN R W B mmu R HM O c 5 8 N m m R E l m 2 AN m S 2 H m N CL 0 M 5 M. E P A m XH 5 M COMPRESSOR 3 INVENTOR CHARLES WARD STONER AT TORN EYS United States Patent EXPANSION CHAMBER FOR CONDENSER COILS OF A REFRIGERATING SYSTEM Charles Ward Stoner, Milwaukee, Wis.

Application January 21, 1953, Serial No. 332,158

2 Claims. (Cl. 62-115) This invention appertains to refrigeration and is cornpanion to my application filed January 21, 1953, Serial No. 332,157 and entitled Expansion Chamber for the High Pressure Side of a Refrigerating System.

In my mentioned application, I disclosed the broad idea of utilizing an expansion chamber between the compressor and the evaporator of a refrigerating system and more specifically to the use of such a chamber in advance of the condenser of the refrigerating system.

In certain instance, I have found that the use of such an expansion chamber directly in the condenser, but in advance of the restrictor element for the evaporator, has certain advantages, and hence the principal object of this invention is to provide an expansion chamber located intermediate the ends of a condenser coil to form means or a space for the gas on the high pressure side of a refrigerating system to compress and expand during the start of a refrigerating cycle whereby to protect the condenser coil and to reduce sudden load on the compressor-motor, etc.

A further object of my invention is to incorporate a chamber in a condenser coil of a refrigerating system, the chamber being arranged adjacent to the inlet of the coil and spaced from the lowermost loops of the condenser coil, whereby such loops will perform their function of receiving and collecting the liquid for the evaporator.

With these and other objects in view, the invention consists in the novel construction, arrangement and formation 'of parts, as will be hereinafter more specifically described and claimed, and illustrated in the accompanying drawing, in which drawing:

Figure 1 is a diagrammatic view showing the use of my expansion chamber in the condenser coil of a refrigerating system.

Fig. 2 is a view similar to Figure 1 and illustrating the use of a spring loaded plunger in the expansion chamber.

Referring to the drawing in detail, wherein similar reference characters designate corresponding parts throughout the several views, the letter B generally indicates a refrigerating system of a type commonly used for electric home refrigerators, farm and home freezers, display cabinets, water coolers and the like, and the same includes a hermetic compressor unit 5. This compressor unit includes a housing 6 containing the compressor 7 and its operating motor 8. The outlet of the compressor 7 is connected to the inlet of a condenser coil 9 by a discharge line conduit 11. The condenser coil 9 has its outlet connected to a restrictor tube 12 and this tube 12 leads to the inlet of an evaporator 13. The low side of the evaporator has connected thereto a suction line con- 2,706,386 Patented Apr. 19, 1955 "ice duit 14 which in turn, leads to the intake of the compressor. The various operating adjuncts for the refrigerating system have not been illustrated in detail, but it is to be noted that the suction line conduit 14 is provided with an accumulator 15 and a service valve 16.

In accordance with my invention, I incorporate directly in the condenser and preferably on the inlet side thereof, a housing 17 having a greater interior diameter than the interior diameter of the coil forming the condenser 9, whereby to provide an enlarged chamber 18.

This chamber 18 functions in the same manner as the expansion chambers shown and described in my companion application for patent heretofore mentioned, namely, to give space for the high pressure gas to expand and compress during the starting of any refrigerating cycle and thereby overcome difficulties in the overloading of a motor, etc., at the start of a refrigerating cycle.

The casing 17 and its chamber 18 can take various forms, and the exact location thereof intermediate the length of the condenser is not critical, providing the expansion chamber is located above the lowermost loops of the condenser coil, where the condensed liquid accumulates.

In Figure 2, I have shown a case 19 incorporated in the condenser coil 9 adjacent to its inlet side of this casing forms an enlarged chamber 20. At one side of the chamber is an adjustable spring loaded plunger or head 21. It is to be noted that the inlet and outlet of the chamber 20 is at one side of the spring loaded plunger or head 21, so that upon the surge of gas under high pressure into the chamber the plunger will function to cushion such surge and still allow for the expansion of the gas. The casing 19 on the opposite side of the plunger from the high pressure gas chamber 20 can be vented, such as by means of a conduit 22, which leads to the low pressure side of the system, namely, the suction tube 14.

Changes in details may be made without departing from the spirit or the scope of this invention but what I claim as new is:

1. In a refrigerating system of the type including a hermetic compressor unit having a compressor and a motor for operating the compressor, a condenser, a discharge line connecting the outlet of the compressor with the inlet of the condenser, an evaporator, a restrictor element connecting the outlet of the condenser with the inlet of the evaporator, and a suction line connecting the outlet of the evaporator with the inlet of the compressor, means locating intermediate the length of the condenser forming an enlarged chamber for the expansion of high pressure gas at the start of any refrigerating cycle, and a spring loaded cushioning head disposed in said chamber at one side of the inlet of said chamber.

2. In a refrigerating system of the type as defined in claim 1, and means for venting the chamber on one side of the head to the suction line.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 586,598 French July 20, 1897 2,291,565 Staebler July 28, 1942 2,316,278 Orshansky Apr. 13, 1943 

